Xia Huna, accompanied by Mu Zhishui, arrived in Sakura Capital in October. Marveling at the ancient architecture, so different from Chun Bei, Xia Huna exclaimed, "Beautiful, so beautiful! This is true beauty, nothing like Chun Bei can compare."
Mu Zhishui walked beside Xia Huna as they entered Sakura Capital. Gazing at the cherry trees lining the road, Xia Huna sighed, "I must come back next year. I absolutely have to see the cherry blossoms."
"You don't have to wait until next year to see cherry blossoms. You can actually see them in Sakura Capital during autumn and winter."
Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui turned to look at a girl wearing thick, bottle-bottom glasses and holding a remarkably thick book.
Xia Huna asked her, "You mean there are still places to see cherry blossoms now?"
The girl nodded and pointed down a road leading west. "Follow this road, and you'll soon see a shrine. That shrine offers a service for viewing cherry blossoms in autumn and winter."
Upon hearing this, Xia Huna took the girl's hand. "Thank you. We'll head there now."
With that, Xia Huna turned to Mu Zhishui. "Zhishui, although there's no festival, how about we go see the cherry blossoms?"
Mu Zhishui agreed. "Sure, the cherry blossoms in Sakura Capital are also exquisite, with a different feel from those in Ming Long Country. Both are beautiful."
Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui bid farewell to the girl they had just met and followed the road westward to find the shrine where they could see autumn cherry blossoms.
Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui quickly found the shrine. At the entrance, a shrine maiden was sweeping the ground. Xia Huna tilted his head upon seeing her, "Hmm? Why do I feel something is off about this shrine maiden?"
Mu Zhishui nodded. "I thought so too. The scene is beautiful, but something feels awkward, not quite harmonious."
As Xia Huna pondered what was wrong, another shrine maiden emerged from the shrine. Seeing Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui standing at the entrance, she asked, "Excuse me, what brings you two to our shrine?"
Upon seeing the newly emerged shrine maiden, Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui realized with a flash of understanding, "So that's it, the color is wrong!"
The second shrine maiden approached Xia Huna from beside the shrine's main gate. "Hello, what brings you two here?"
Xia Huna looked at Mu Zhishui, who replied, "We heard that we could see autumn cherry blossoms here, so we've come to visit. If we've caused any offense or intruded, we will leave immediately."
"No, nothing is inappropriate. In fact, this is one of our revenue streams. We are very happy that you've come to see the cherry blossoms."
As she spoke, the shrine maiden led Xia Huna and his companion into the shrine. "Please follow me. Our shrine's autumn cherry blossoms are this way."
Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui followed the shrine maiden. Xia Huna, however, was still curious. "May I ask, you're wearing a red shrine maiden outfit. Why is the one at the entrance wearing green?"
The shrine maiden walking ahead paused. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Miyazaki Sakura, the head shrine maiden of this shrine. The one at the entrance is my sister, Miyazaki Ran. She is wearing a green shrine maiden outfit because she made a mistake this morning. This is our shrine's disciplinary measure. Green symbolizes her mistaken status."
Xia Huna nodded. "I see."
As Xia Huna and the two shrine maidens walked further inside, another shrine maiden rushed out anxiously. "Oh no, something has happened."
Sakura stopped the shrine maiden. "Lingzi, what's the matter? Why are you so flustered?"
Upon seeing Sakura, the shrine maiden, Lingzi, acted as if she had found a savior. "Oh no, Sakura. Cherry Blossom is suddenly looking listless, as if she's about to collapse."
Hearing Lingzi's words, Sakura forgot about Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui and hurried towards the inner part of the shrine. Lingzi looked at Xia Huna, who had been left behind, and bowed to the two of them. "Excuse me."
Xia Huna quickly said, "Not at all. Cherry Blossom must be very important to Sakura, right? Can we go take a look? Perhaps we can help in some way."
Lingzi thought for a moment. "Alright, please follow me."
Lingzi took over from Sakura and led Xia Huna and Mu Zhishui inside. Mu Zhishui asked, "Is that Cherry Blossom that's feeling unwell Miss Sakura's Pokémon?"
"Yes, that Cherry Blossom has grown up with Miss Sakura since childhood. She is also key to our shrine being able to show you the autumn cherry blossoms. This morning, due to Ran's mistake, she fed Cherry Blossom the wrong thing. She was punished to sweep the ground and is not allowed to interact with Pokémon for a month."
"That's a heavy punishment."
Xia Huna asked, "So, is Cherry Blossom feeling unwell because she ate the wrong thing?"
Lingzi shook her head. "I don't know. This has never happened before."
The three followed Sakura into a room, where they saw Sakura sitting by a wooden bed. On the bed lay a listless Cherry Blossom.
Sakura reached out and touched Cherry Blossom's head. "Cherry Blossom, are you alright?"
Cherry Blossom opened its eyes, looked at Sakura, and let out two soft chirps. Sakura looked at her Cherry Blossom with concern. "Alright, you rest well and get better soon."
After comforting Cherry Blossom, Sakura stood up and saw the three standing at the doorway. "Lingzi, why did you bring them here?"
"Don't blame Lingzi, I insisted she bring me here to see."
Xia Huna said as he approached the bed and crouched down to look at Cherry Blossom. "Come, Cherry Blossom, let me touch you."
Seeing Xia Huna extend his "black hand" towards Cherry Blossom, Lingzi and Mu Zhishui were startled. This was Sakura's most precious Pokémon, and he just reached out like that, was it alright?
Sakura hadn't expected this man to directly reach for her precious Cherry Blossom. She was momentarily stunned until Xia Huna's hand had already touched it.
"Cherry Blossom, what exactly is bothering you?"
Cherry Blossom chirped twice. Xia Huna moved his hand from the fruit to the leaves. "Tell me, I'll keep it a secret for you, okay?"
Cherry Blossom glanced at Sakura, then shook its fruit. Xia Huna continued to stroke its leaves. "If you don't tell me, how can I help you?"
Cherry Blossom considered for a moment, then let out a low chirp. Xia Huna listened to Cherry Blossom's chirps. "This kind of thing is happening? Can you tell me where?"
Watching Xia Huna communicate with Cherry Blossom like this, the other three felt as if they were witnessing something utterly absurd.
"Does this gentleman have such an ability? That's amazing."
Mu Zhishui shook his head. "This is the first time I've known him to have this skill."
As they were speaking, they saw Xia Huna rubbing Cherry Blossom's fruit. "Okay, I understand. I will help you."
With that, Xia Huna stood up with a smile and walked over to Mu Zhishui. "Let's go. Let Cherry Blossom rest well."
The three, not knowing what Xia Huna and Cherry Blossom had discussed, looked at Xia Huna with full of curiosity. Xia Huna waved at Cherry Blossom. "Goodbye, wait for my good news."
The four walked out of the room. Sakura asked Xia Huna, "Sir, how is Cherry Blossom?"
Xia Huna looked at Sakura. "I don't know. Anyway, it's all your fault. You figure it out yourself."
With that, Xia Huna pulled Mu Zhishui and Lingzi away, leaving Sakura standing alone, not knowing what to say.
Xia Huna, pulling Mu Zhishui and Lingzi to a corner, commanded, "Ninjask, keep an eye out for me. Report if anyone comes."
After commanding Ninjask, Xia Huna pulled Mu Zhishui and Lingzi down. "Alright, ask whatever you want to ask now."
"What did you just say to Cherry Blossom? Did Miss Sakura really do something wrong?"
Xia Huna sighed. "You two have to keep this a secret between me and Cherry Blossom."
Seeing Mu Zhishui and the other nod, Xia Huna explained, "Actually, Cherry Blossom is faking her illness."
"Faking?"
"Shh, keep your voice down. Let me tell you, Cherry Blossom is in love. A few days ago, a young Cherry Blossom met a Cherubi, and they fell in love at first sight. Their relationship was going well. But this morning, because Ran fed her the wrong thing, she was punished to sweep the ground, and their relationship broke off."
Lingzi was confused. What did these two things have to do with each other?
Xia Huna continued to explain, "That Cherubi seems to be on good terms with Ran. But because Ran is punished not to interact with Pokémon for a month, Ran proactively broke off her relationship with that wild Cherubi. That wild Cherubi, because Ran wouldn't interact with her, could only watch Ran from afar. And Cherubi, who knew the whole story, disliked Sakura, and subsequently disliked Cherry Blossom. Do you understand now?"
Mu Zhishui and Lingzi nodded. Xia Huna continued, "So, Cherry Blossom is pretending to be sick and acting out because she can't see the Cherubi she likes. That's it. You two know, but it's best we don't get involved."
"Didn't you just tell Cherry Blossom that you would help her?"
Xia Huna smiled. "How should I put it? A wise man has his own ways."
With that, Xia Huna stood up. "I need to go find Ran, who is still sweeping, to get some information. What about you two?"
Mu Zhishui thought for a moment. "I'll go with you. It's not appropriate for a man to go find a shrine maiden alone."
After saying this, they looked at Lingzi. Lingzi quickly raised her hand and swore, "I will not tell Sakura. If I do, may I be disliked by all Pokémon forever!"
Seeing Lingzi make such a solemn oath, Xia Huna smiled. "Then we'll go find Ran first. Remember to keep it a secret."